Local Cuisine of Thailand Bangkok

Bangkok cuisine combines the best of the varied cooking influences ever to land on its shores. The Chinese introduced the wok to the city along with an assortment of noodles. Meanwhile, the Muslims brought meat dishes and dried spices in the 14th century.

Bangkok cuisine is a feast for the eyes and the palate. Attention to detail along with a colorful selection of ingredients makes it appetizing. Its style and elegance are in honor of the city’s distinction as the home of Thailand’s royal family.

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The ingredients used in Bangkok cuisine are both flavorful and to a certain extent offer some medicinal benefits. Flavors like coriander, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, galangal, lemon grass, chilies, and shrimp paste are common. However, in contrast to the rest of the country, the city’s cuisine has a sweeter flavor. Hence, the addition of palm sugar. Sourness is also characteristic of certain dishes and achieved with the use of lime juice and tamarind.

Chicken, pork, beef, water buffalo and duck are common meats in their cuisine. Mutton and goat are also available as Muslim Thais favor it. Seafood is abundant owing to the city’s proximity to the ocean.

Street food is part of the allure of Bangkok cuisine. Indeed, despite the lack of a Michelin rating, the city’s street fare is amazing. However, you should be aware most cart vendors take a day off on Mondays, which is street cleaning day. The best locations you need to check out are outside the hospitals, shopping centers and universities.

Your food expenses while traveling in Bangkok can range from a little over USD 6 to 100 USD depending on your choice of location. Malls are reasonable destinations for local cuisine. They serve good food and it offers an escape from the heat of the sun.

A word of caution when it comes to your spice level. Speak out beforehand or else suffer a burnt tongue as some places might assume you can handle the heat.

Thai Curry

Thai curry is the signature dish of the country. Indeed, you cannot say or even think about curry without the word Thai before it. Its delicious flavors and varied ingredients are what have made it a household name throughout the world.

Where to Eat

Phad Thai

Pad Thai could very well be the national noodle dish of the country. It is also one of its famous imports, so it is no wonder you find it on the menus of Thai restaurants in your own country. However, like most Thai dishes, nothing beats eating the original.

Where to Eat

Khao Soi

Khao Soi might not be a dish many people know about. Even those who might consider themselves a Thai cuisine gourmand may be unaware of it. Nonetheless, Khao soi will soon become one of your favorites once you taste it.

Where to Eat

Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum also known as Tom Yam is a popular soup dish from Thailand with a strong following throughout the world. The appeal of this dish lies in the exquisite balance of heat and sourness. In addition, the textures found in a single bowl add to its charm.

Where to Eat

Papaya Salad
(Som Tum)

Som Tum is the native papaya salad served everywhere in the country. The distinct manner in which they prepare the green papaya for this salad is part of its charm. It is shredded by hand to achieve its unique strips.

Where to Eat

Coconut Milk Soup
(Tom Kha Kai)

Tom Kha Gai is another soup dish from Thai cuisine you are bound to fall in love with. Even if you are not fond of coconut milk, this dish could make you change your mind.

Where to Eat

Stir Fried Cashew Chicken

Kai med ma muang or stir fried chicken and cashew nuts is a staple dish enjoyed by many Thais. The combination of stir fried chicken and cashew nuts makes for an interesting texture.

Where to Eat

Fried Rice
(Khao Phad)

Khao Pad is guaranteed to excite anyone’s palate. It is available throughout the city from street vendors and restaurants. The stir fried dish is cooked over high heat to give it its distinct flavor.

Where to Eat

Crab Curry

Fried curry crab is your dish if you love crab and must have curry. It is the perfect union. The origin of this dish dates back to 1969 when the Somboon Seafood restaurant introduced it to local diners.

Where to Eat

Thai Red Duck

Thai red duck is slow cooked to perfection so as to enhance the flavors of the sauce it was marinated in. Hence, you want to make it a point to try it out during your stay in the Thai capital.

Where to Eat

Phad Si-io
(FLat Noodles)

Phad Si-io
(Flat Noodles)

Phad Si-Io is another popular noodle dish from Thailand. While it might be a simple meal of flat noodles, rest assured there is nothing ordinary about its flavor.

Where to Eat

Pineapple Rice

Pineapple rice will grab your attention the moment it is served to you in a half-sliced pineapple. Yet its presentation is only half of what makes this dish a must for you to try out in Bangkok.

Where to Eat